Israeli solider captured by Hamas militants in Gaza thought to be British

A soldier thought to have been captured in Gaza could be a British Israeli, according to reports.

The Foreign Office is urgently investigating claims that Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, 23, who is believed to have been taken by Hamas fighters, is from a family of British Jewish immigrants.

"We are aware of these reports and we are urgently looking into them," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

Israeli officials said that Lt Goldin disappeared as a ceasefire brokered by the UN collapsed just a couple of hours after it was supposed to come into effect.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said that the apparent abduction took place when Palestinian gunmen emerged from their network of tunnels, with at least one fighter detonating an explosives vest.